NORTHERN DIVISION.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 11 July 1927, Page 7

NORTHERN DIVISION.

SENIOR GRADE. STAR v. STRATFORD. An enthusiastic crowd of between 2000 and 3000 witnessed the encounter between Star and Stratford, on the latter’s ground. The ground was on the heavy .side, and conditions were rot improved, for as the match urogrissed a drizzling rai-n set -in and .ontinued to its conclusion. The dominating lactor was the Stratford forward team. Mainly owing to the home team’s sulieirioritv in this division, it enlarged victorious bv eight points (two tries, one converted) to nil.

The teams lined out as follows: Strut to i d (Red and Black). —Godins, Roy Pennia 11, Alger. Wynyaird, Bonner, Owen, Songster, Fry day, Hinton, Young, Walter, O’Keefe. Kivell, Bond, Smith.

Star (Black). —Morris, H. Wolfe, Goodwin. Falwasser, Court, Dykes, Julian, Hoffman. Graham. Sturmey, Wolfe. Adams. Roebuck, Kern ball, M< - Cready.

Stratford kicked off, and the blacks, headed by FaUvasser, returned to hallway from where PeiMiiaul found touch at Star’s twenty-five. The pressure was continued and Star were forced. From the kick out the Red backs .secured and a chain of passing to_ Bonner saw the latter streak for the line, being brought down by Morris. A moment later Star were forced. A determined onslaught by Stratford backs, in. which Alger handled 3a.st, took play to the- star line- and over-eagerness spoilt a try. Then Collins tailed in a, penalty kick. Fixrni centre play Algor and'-Owen resumed the offensive, Morris saving in fine style, and putting the Bucks momentarily on the attack. Pennia.ll and I< ryday again brought the light back, the last-named spoiling his chances bv cutting in (instead of bidding in a 'straight course. Stratford. however, held the game in the Blacks’ quarter. Collins failed in a penal tv and Star found relief i-n forcing. The game remained at mid-field for a term, and Owen set his backs in motion. The Red forwards continued the, movement, and W ail ter* cLriibb loci over for the first score, twenty-six minutes after the commencement of (fie game. Collins converted with a line kick. Stratford 5, Star 0.

The Blacks woke up, Falwasser finishing oil a spirited forward rush by finding touch at the Reds’ 25. Bonner returned to the centre, where Goodwin picked up and ran to the quarter line. Star were awarded a penalty from the resultant tackle by Owen, and Morris failed with an easy kick. The Reds surged down the field. holding the visitors to hard defence. Owen and Frvdnv went within an ace of getting over, 'and a moment after Owen and Songster seriously menaced the Star citadel. Continuous pressure was maintained by the home team, fa I - wasser and Wolfe transferring to the centre on the call of half-time.

On. (-hanging over, with Falwasser nt centre three-quarter, the visitors assumed the offensive, but, Wvnyard sent them back, and from the centre Owen started his back division on a movement which resulted in a force. Attack and counter attack succeeded with no material advantage. A long kick by Dykes found touch within a few yards of the beds’ corner flag., but the forwards and "Bonner cleared, the advantage being clinched by Collins kicking to°Star’s quarter, when a fine passing run, emanating from the scrum, was brought to finality by Hoffman’s tackle when Owen loked like doing something. Then from the centre the bed forwards. led bv O’Keefe ovor-ran the ball but SangstcV was handy and, picking up, dived over. Collins miskieked the place apcl the score was: Stratford 8,

Star 0. With a quart or of an hour in hand the Blacks made strenuous efforts to reduce the margin of points and twice reached the danger zone, only to he repulsed by Young, O’Keefe and hivell, who were playing the typical wet weather forward game. Bond was ii strnmental in hemming the Blacks on their line, where a penalty gave relief Cooper received from the penalty aim returning well up-field, 'foil-awed his kick and had the Stars in difficulties, the greasy nature of the ball assisting ti u . defence. Vacillating play accountid for the balance of the spell. At the call of time, with no addition to the score, the game was located at midfield. Stratford Star 0 Mr. H. G. Whittington was referee. OLD BOYS v. ELTHAM. Though in the first round Eltham had made a fairly even fight against Old Bovs, the former on their own giound were outclassed by the northern team. Bed bv the All Black, H. W. Brown, the Old Boys’ rear division gave a finished exhibition, despite a greasy ground and difficult ball, and the team ran up do points with seven tries (two converted), while Eltham were unable to open an account. An outstanding feature was the play of the representative wing, T. Dinniss, who was brilliant throughout and accounted tor three tries, while he was responsible tor another. The teams lined out as follows: Old Bovs (White)—. Boon; G. Deem, H. Brown (capt.), T. Dinniss; X. Fookes, C. Stevens; M. Morey (half), C. Smart (rover); C. Drader, C.. Whiting, JR. Brewster, E. Euxton, W. Bcndall; K. Riley, K. Campbell (hookers). Eltham (Black and White)— A. Dobson; R. Tayler, Moore, A. Gilhver; S. Tiplady, E. Seown; Nicholls (half); X. Pennington (rover); A. McDonald, G. Cruden; Len Tepperell, Lou 1 epperell (capt.), Slocombe; Fanner, A. Thomas (hookers).

With the assistance of a fresh diagonal breeze, the Magpies kept action in the visitors’ territory during the early stages, the home forwards, with Thomas and the two Pcpperclls showing prominently, indulging in a series of sorties, which, however, failed to make any serious impression on the opposing backs, the moves being turned with monotonous regularity by Morey and his supports. Penalised for kicking the ball into the scrum, Morey gave a chance to Lou Peppered, who, from five yards inside, half-way, made a weak attempt to goal. A long kick a moment later resulted in a force by Old -Boys. Twelve minutes from the commencement Old Boys made their first invasion when Dinniss dribbled from midway to the twenty-live. Here a scrum gave possession to Morey and the ball went through the chain to Dinniss, on the left wing, who crossed in the corner, just ahead of Moore’s tackle. A good kick bv Brown sent the ball a little short of the goal. Old Boys 3, Eltham nil. For another willing five minutes Eltham maintained the advantage, but the collaring and fielding of the Old Boys’ backs was without a flaw, and, with a fine disregard for the menacingpack, they frequently opened swift passing bouts well within their own twenty-five. A White forward rush from midfield was developed at the twenty-five by Smart and Drader, a. tricky interchange between this pair sending Smart round between the uprights for a try, which Brown converted. The next score came within two minutes, Morey sending the ball from a scrum to Fookes, to Stevens, to Dinniss, who cleverly eluded two attempted tackles and again crossed near touch. Riley failed. Old Boys 11, Eltham 0. Though it was evident that the visitors’ fine back machine was outclassing the home side, the latter’s forwards showed dash. Fanner, Thomas, Lou Pepperell and Pennington were dangerous on different occasions, but could not penetrate, and shortly before half-time Dinniss added his third -try when, receiving from Stevens, he made a corkscrew thrust which beat four defenders and went over in good position. Brown’s kick made the score —

Old Boys Eltham

Len'Pepperell appeared as Eltham’s last line of defence when play resumed, Dobson moving up into the pack. Old Boys pressed immediately and Brown failed with an attempted pot from twenty-live. McDonald retaliated for Eltham with a good dash away from midfield and Slocombe was just beaten for the touch down. Playing with the wind, the Old Boys’ rear division kept the ball soaring for a few minutes, and results came when a smart cut in by Fookes was capped with a try by Brown. The latter failed. Old Boys 19, Eltham 0. A melee in the home twenty-five resulted in Scown receiving a knock which compelled him to retire. He was not replaced. Another series of dazzling attacks by the clever White backs followed, but mainly through the opposition of Tiplady, Moore and Len Pepperell, whose tackling was sound, the attempts were frustrated till, after a particularly bright exchange in which eight White players handled the ball, Brown accepted a reverse pass to score in the corner. ’ Riley’s kick failed, but Old Boys were 22 points up. A penalty kick by Len Pepperell failed to open the home account, but Eltham were making game endeavours and a burst by Moore, Tiplady and Tayler was stemmed right on the line when Morey marked. A useful dribble by Thomas appeared dangerous when Tiplady gave support, but Fanner’s ground kick allowed Boon to force. For -the remainder of the spell Eltham were seldom dangerous, while continuous rain, which added to the difficult nature of the ground, robbed the Old Boys’ attacks of their former precision, just on full time, however, Dinniss received from Brown at .midfield and threaded a passage through the home rear division. Grossing between the posts he waited for Drader and allowed the latter to notch The final try. Stevens’ kick failed to rise the ball, and no side sounded with the score— Old Boys 25 Eltham 0 Mr F. J. Eggleton was referee. TUKAPA v. CLIFTON. With both teams out of striking distance of the championship, little interest was centred in the meeting of Tukapa and Clifton at Pukekura Park, and only a few hundred people braved the rain which filled in the long wait after the curtain-raiser between High School and Old Boys juniors and Clifton’s (belated appearance. Most enthusiasts seemed to have gone to Stratford. As Tukapa’s superiority became more marked and rain fell harder, even this small crowd dwindled until, when

Tuka |in eiontually left the field victors by 14 points to <). the terraces wen. practically empty. It was mud-field Rugby, and that is about all that need be said. Both teams piayed with grcat--I'- weakened sides, which were further depleted by the fact that each lost a forward (sent oil' the field) early in the u;!me. The incident was a surprise to the spectators and apparently to the 1 iayers, who were not guilty of pugil istic exchanges, but of wordy argument. Of this, the referee stated that fiie two players in question, McLean (Tukapa) and McAstv (Clifton) had been previously warned and their atriHides were becoming a bit heated.

Tukapa scored from flic opening rush. L. McGuire dicing across. Petty faked with the kick. CM if ton equalised after a few minutes. Jonah chasing a wide kick over, to score near the corner. Tate failed to improve. Both sides made the game open, and Petty goaled for Tukapa from a penalty. Clifton were attacking when the two forwards. McLean (Tukapa) and McAsey, marched from the field, having been ordered off for argument after having been warned once. Newell scored Tukapa’s next try just inside the dead ball line, after a. great race with the ball. Petty converted from an ea.sv position. Just before halftime Pet tv added another penalty goal, making the score at the breather: Tukapa 14 Clifton Play was even in the second spell, throughout which rain fell heavily. The ground was quickly churned .to a quasimire, and no score was registered until the last few minutes, when Jonas accepted from Crow during a line-out in the corner and cut straight through to the line. Telfar failed to improve, the game ending: Tukapa 14 Clifton 6 Mr. A. -McLean was referee.